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This gorgeous XK140 SE Roadster was purchased new by the voluptuous Swedish film star, Anita Ekberg, whose most famous role was that of Sylvia in Federico Fellini's era-defining movie, La Dolce Vita (1960), in which she co-starred with Italian heart-throb, Marcello Mastroianni. The scene in which she frolics with Mastroianni in Rome's Trevi Fountain has been called 'one of cinema's most iconic'.

A former 'Miss Sweden', Ekberg had earned a place in the USA's 'Miss Universe' contest in 1951, and although she did not win, was offered a contract by Universal Studios. After a succession of forgettable films, including 'Abbott and Costello Go To Mars', she was fired but remained in the public eye thanks to her 40-23-37 figure and countless appearances in the pages of gossip magazines. A succession of well publicised romances with Hollywood leading men such as Errol Flynn, Frank Sinatra, Tyrone Power, and Yul Brynner only served to whet the public's appetite for further revelations.

Signed by John Wayne's production company at $75 per week, she made a much better fist of her second bite at stardom's apple, appearing alongside Audrey Hepburn and Mel Ferrer in King Vidor's production of War and Peace, and with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in Hollywood or Bust among others. In 1956, Hollywood gossip columnist Hedda Hopper reported that Ekberg's fee was now $75,000 per picture.

By this time, Ekberg was partnering the British actor, Anthony Steel, whom she would marry, and it was while with him in England that she visited Jaguar's London showroom to order a new XK140 SE, the car offered here. Newly introduced for 1955, the Jaguar XK140 was broadly similar to, though more refined than, its sensational XK120 predecessor, major engineering changes being confined to the repositioning of the engine 3" further forward and the adoption of rack-and-pinion steering. The suspension and brakes remained much as before, though with stiffer torsion bars at the front and telescopic shock absorbers replacing lever type at the rear. Outwardly the newcomer was distinguishable by its revised radiator grille, rear lights incorporating flashing indicators, and larger bumpers.

The power unit remained Jaguar's well-tried, 3.4-litre, twin-cam six, which now produced 190bhp in standard trim. A close-ratio gearbox enabled better use to be made of the increased performance, and overdrive became an option for the first time. Special Equipment (SE) cars came with wire wheels and Lucas fog lamps, and could be ordered with an engine developing 210bhp courtesy of the C-Type cylinder head. XK140 performance was well up to the standards set by its exemplary predecessor, contemporary road-tests regularly recording top speed figures in excess of 120mph, making its Britain's fastest production sports car. There was also the unique cachet of its red boot badge that read, 'Winner Le Mans 1951-3', a reference to the Jaguar C-Type's three consecutive victories at the Circuit de La Sarthe.

Ekberg's XK140 SE was supplied in left-hand drive configuration as a 'Personal Export Delivery' in April 1956 carrying the temporary registration 'NVC 278', a Coventry mark. The accompanying Jaguar Heritage Certificate records Anita Ekberg as first owner, and lists the original colour scheme as cream with black interior trim and matching convertible hood. 'S812181DN' was also supplied with the optional overdrive gearbox for more relaxed cruising (3,800rpm at 100mph).

The car then spent years in private European collections before its acquisition by the current vendor, who only found out its important history after his purchase. Retaining matching chassis and engine numbers, the XK has since been thoroughly restored and is presented in commensurately excellent condition.

'Cars of the stars' have always attracted the attention of collectors, and there can be few more desirable than this beautiful Jaguar XK140, forever associated with one of the most popular movie actresses of all time.

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